I’m not sure where this is leading. I don’t know how The Episcopal Church will react to the Primates’ statement
I’m writing to you about the gathering of Anglican Primates in Canterbury, discussing concerns about the unity of the Anglican Communion in response to the decisions in The Episcopal Church and elsewhere on issues of marriage and sexuality, and the ordination of women to the episcopacy. They have issued a statement, which I am attaching here; I hope you’ll take a minute to read it. I also encourage you to look at the Episcopal News Service coverage of the Primates meeting (found here), which includes several quotes from our Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Michael Curry.
I am encouraged that the Primates recognize the differences and divisions in the Anglican Communion and have decided to walk together anyway. The Primates know and feel the frictions and tensions in the Communion as well as or better than anyone else and have declared today that they value the unity of this part of God’s Church.
At the same time, it is discouraging that the Primates have decided that they need to essentially put The Episcopal Church on a sort of probation for three years, as described in the next to last paragraph.
My brothers and sisters, I’m not sure where this is leading. I don’t know how The Episcopal Church will react to the Primates’ statement, or what this will eventually mean for our ongoing participation in the Anglican Communion. I do know that this is potentially very serious for us. I do know that I am grateful to be part of this Diocese, and for the unity that we continue to treasure, even as we continue to hold diverse opinions on controversial matters. And I do know that the Spirit of God continues to be at work in The Episcopal Church and in the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama, and that our highest calling continues to be to offer ourselves to the love and service of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
God’s Peace,
Kee
